English

Aims and objectives

English is about developing listening, speaking, reading and writing skills so that children can communicate and use language effectively in a range of contexts. Children are taught to express themselves creatively and imaginatively and to become critical participants in literature and texts.

The aims of English are: • To enable children to speak clearly and audibly in ways which take account of their listeners; • To encourage children to listen and to read with concentration in order to be able to understand the world around them. • To develop children’s abilities to reflect on their own and others’ contributions and the language used; • To develop confident, independent readers and writers (including handwriting) through an appropriate focus on word, sentence and text-level knowledge; • To encourage children to become enthusiastic and reflective readers through contact with enjoyable, challenging and lengthy texts; • To help children to value and enjoy speaking, reading and writing; • To foster in children, the ability to be effective communicators

Assessment & Recording

Assessment can be summative or formative. Both types are used to full benefit at Merton Bank Primary School. Teachers are continually making on-going assessments that feed into their future planning. Regular assessments are made through tests and daily teacher assessments. End of year assessments aid analysis and measurement of progress. End of Key Stage tests are conducted in accordance with the latest guidance and requirements. Where children are working below age related expectations, they are supported by intervention programmes led by experienced staff. Data is recorded into tracking programs which aid target setting procedures and form the basis for teaching and learning.

Assessment is made of writing content, writing skills including spelling, grammar and punctuation, reading and comprehension skills. Extended writing opportunities are presented through other curriculum areas and links to topics are explored through writing e.g. writing a diary during Tudor times.

At Merton Bank, the children have access to a wide range of reading materials which is supported by our links with the St Helens School Library Service who provide us with bespoke packages of fiction and non fiction titles as well as Storysacks for our younger pupils and Artefact Boxes to enhance our topic work (Learning Challenges).

Our reading books cater for all interests and abilities and expose all our children to challenging texts including fiction, non fiction, poetry, plays, traditional stories and classic fiction. “Home readers” encourage the children to continue to practise their reading skills with adults at home. In school, pupils learn deeper reading skills such as inference, deduction and comprehension through small group “Guided Reading“ sessions based on reading scheme books for our KS1 pupils and class texts for KS2 pupils which link with topic work or support learning in English lessons to enable pupils to make connections in their learning.

Our youngest children use the Oxford Reading Tree scheme as their first introduction to books supplemented by other schemes such as Rigby Star, Treetops, All Aboard, Storyworld and Sunshine. As the children move through the “book bands” and become skilled and fluent readers they are able to select their own reading materials with guidance from their teacher.